Green Manure and other observations

[oldie]

I have a 5mx4m section on my plot that has had grass on in for about 18 years. Prior to that it was probably used for veg. I used it this year to grow a lot of potatoes under cardboard and straw. Excellent results. As I have decided to rethink my plot layout after 2 years (thinks Hazel on the Hill)) I decided to experiment with green manures. 1 section Fenugreek, 1 Buckwheat, 1 Mustard and 1 Phacelia. Heavy clay soil, average pH8!.
Sowed 24 days ago. Fenugreek 26" tall and about to flower, Mustard 22" tall about to flower, Buckwheat 5" tall not looking to good and Phacelia a lush dense carpet of green about 14" tall until it got flattened by heavy rain on Thursday.
What conclusions should I draw? Neighbour says pH to high and to much nitrogen in soil.
Possibly over limed in the past? Any suggestion about next crop, was going to put over wintering onions and garlic here.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm not sure what you're asking?

Do you think the green manures have grown too big, too quick? (my weeds are growing quicker & taller, in all this heat and rain).

[oldie]

I did not expect the green manures to get to flowering stage so quickly.
Also why is the Buckwheat growth so poor in comparison. Do I need to do anything about the high pH. Is the high amount of leaf growth I get from everything I grow a sign of nitrogen richness and do I need to do any thing about it. As an example my winter cabbage which according the books/catalogues has an average height of 50cm grew to over 1metre tall

[Two_Sheds]

Is the high amount of leaf growth I get from everything I grow a sign of nitrogen richness and do I need to do any thing about it.

This site says that green manures are useful at mopping up excess nitrogen Cotswold Grass Seeds - Summer Green Manures

Presumably you then have to put the cut manure somewhere else, not back on the soil.

As to your 1m cabbage ... dunno? It's not growing in shade is it?

[Two_Sheds]

Heavy clay soil, average pH8!... Neighbour says pH to high

pH8 is only medium alkaline ... not too bad for growing at all, and brassicas will like it. http://www.eutechinst.com/tips/ph/15_soil_ph.pdf

[oldie]

That's really useful T_S. Never come across Cotswold seeds before. Encouraging to find that contrary to what I've been told pH of 8 isn't really to bad. Maybe thats the answer to my drumhead cabbage just producing masses of huge leaves. It was actually in a sunny spot.

[Rocketron]

I have a 5mx4m section on my plot that has had grass on in for about 18 years. Prior to that it was probably used for veg. I used it this year to grow a lot of potatoes under cardboard and straw. Excellent results. As I have decided to rethink my plot layout after 2 years (thinks Hazel on the Hill)) I decided to experiment with green manures. 1 section Fenugreek, 1 Buckwheat, 1 Mustard and 1 Phacelia. Heavy clay soil, average pH8!.
Sowed 24 days ago. Fenugreek 26" tall and about to flower, Mustard 22" tall about to flower, Buckwheat 5" tall not looking to good and Phacelia a lush dense carpet of green about 14" tall until it got flattened by heavy rain on Thursday.
What conclusions should I draw? Neighbour says pH to high and to much nitrogen in soil.
Possibly over limed in the past? Any suggestion about next crop, was going to put over wintering onions and garlic here.

Completely off topic, but let the fenugreek flower and form seed pods. A wonderful spice seed that many don't realise we can grow in this country.